Work

Epidemiological and sociodemographic profile of Mpox in Brazilian Amazon: a cross-sectional study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Mpox outbreak was characterized by viral transmission within sexual networks and atypical clinical presentations, requiring regional epidemiological evaluations. This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic profile, temporal notification trends, and clinical characteristics of suspected and confirmed Mpox cases in Pará, Brazilian Amazon (2022-2025). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study based on the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) between March 2022 and December 2025, adhering to STROBE guidelines. The sample (N = 296) was stratified into confirmed Mpox cases (G1; n = 86) and ruled-out cases (G2; n = 210). Associations were evaluated using Pearson's Chi-square test (for expected cell counts ≥ 5) or Fisher's exact test (for expected counts < 5), with significance set at p < 0.05 in SPSS v.26.0. RESULTS: In G1, infection was concentrated among men (97.7%), cisgender men (96.5%), adults aged 19 to 59 years (98.8%), residents of Belém (76.7%), individuals with tertiary education (53.5%), and those reporting homosexual (73.3%) or bisexual (12.8%) orientation (p < 0.001). Clinically, fever (81.4%; p < 0.001) and localized genital lesions (43.0% in G1 vs. 6.2% in G2; p < 0.001) were the primary presentations. Intimate sexual contact was the primary probable exposure pathway (65.1%; p < 0.001). A high proportion of HIV coinfection was observed in G1 (54.7%), with complete reporting overlap with immunosuppression status, alongside 23.3% presenting an active STI at notification (p < 0.001), predominantly active syphilis (16.3%). Clinical management was predominantly outpatient (7.0% hospitalization rate; p = 0.261), with a 96.5% cure rate among valid confirmed cases. No Mpox-attributed deaths occurred among confirmed cases, though all-cause mortality in G1 was 2.3% (n = 2). CONCLUSION: Mpox cases in Pará were concentrated in the state capital, associated with intimate sexual contact networks among young adults, and characterized by high coinfection frequencies with HIV and syphilis.

Source: Infection

DOI: 10.1007/s15010-026-03022-3